According to property consultant DTZ, Thailand’s real estate market was boosted by the listing of major property funds and a high number of acquisitions, particularly in the office and hotel sectors. Some $1.1 billion (720 million), or 55 percent of total real estate investment, came from transactions by real estate funds or public funds for public offerings (PFPOs).

Investment activity received a major boost from the listing of Tesco Lotus Retail Growth Freehold and Leasehold (TLGF) in the beginning of January 2012, which proved to bethe largest property fund listing for the year. The $594-million (389 million) fund purchased 17 Tesco Lotus shopping malls in prime locations across Thailand in a deal which by itself exceeded half of the real estate investments in the country in 2011.

Other notable property fund investments in 2012 included the purchase during the first quarter of three serviced apartment complexesand residences for $106 million (69 million) by the listed Land and Houses Freehold and Leasehold Property Fund (LHPF). Additionally, the Quality Houses Hotel and Residence Freehold and Leasehold Property Fund (QHHR) bought three Centre Point serviced apartments in the third quarter, for some $107 million (70 million).

KTAM Eyes Real Estate Market

Krung Thai Asset Management (KTAM) has the ambition to lead the market in property funds and,more specifically, to increase its assets under management by 20 percent in 2013 to 516 billion baht (11.3 billion), said chief executive officer Somchai Boonnamsiri, citing the positive overall investment climate.

The Bangkok Post reports that Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi plans to raise funds through the funds managed by KTAM, with the subsequent capital increase being dedicated to turning KTAM into the global leader of this type of fund.

KTAM is considering entering new markets including Mexico, Brazil and some European countries. Annualised return for short-term investments in these regions is forecast at 3.5 percent or about one percent higher than returns in the Thai domestic market.

The Thai fund intends to boost the capital of property funds under the direction Sirivadhanabhakdi’s TCC group to as high as 50 billion baht (1.1 billion) this year. The fund also plans to launch ETFs on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in sectors such as food, energy, ICT and the commercial sector.

2013 will be the last year in which Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission will allow investments in what has been known as property type 1, with introduction a new type of property fund, the internationally recognised real estate investment trust, set to replace the old structure.